Stocking-frame



(No moaleil.) P. B. SPOOVNER..

Stocking Frame. No. 240,802.' PateniedApril 26,1881.'

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` UNITED l. STATES PATENTl OFFICE.

FREDERICK B. SPOONER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

.sToCKlNG-FRAM E.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 240,802, dated April 26, 1881.

Application nieu December 22, 1880. (No moua.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, FREDERICK BRITTAN SPOONER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county oi' Kings and State ot' New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stocking- Frames, of which the following is a speciication.'

The -object of this invention is to provide as thin, light, and inexpensive a frame as possible, and which shall at the same time be capable of adjustment, so that both the foot and leg, or either of them, maybe expanded or contracted to suit various sizes of hose, but at all times retain thetrue relative outline of both foot and leg.

Heretofore artificial limbs have been-employed for exhibiting stockings. These, however, stretch the stocking and take up too much room to exhibit a large quantity,v in a small space, as they cannot be set as closely together as in my case, and furthermore cannot be used to so great an advantage in drying stockings as it would if constructed in skeleton form, so as to give the air more chance to circulate directly through the article on the frame.

Figure l represents a side view, showinga l wire frame whose front outline is adjusted by" means of a cam and whose rear outline is ad j usted through the agency of spring or looped connecting-bars. Fig. 2 is a. side /view ot' a modification of the same. Fig. 3/i's7a side view of a modication of the sai/ne when made of solid material.

Similar letters otr reference indicate corresponding parts. l

In the case here presedged, A represents a skeleton-frame, preferably made of wire, the contour of whose outline resembles the true form of a neat foot and leg without any distortion in thickness. The said frame, coml inencing at the upper extremity, a, extends t downward, and in one continuous piece follows the contounlbf the foot and leg, and the other extremity," a, of the said piece of wire, after formingthe top of the frame, extends centrally down the leg and terminates at the toe, where it is soldered fast. It will here be noticed that at thebottom of the heel the wire is bent inward in the form of a large ring or loop, b, so that should it be necessary to increase or diminish the length of the foot it can be accomplished by spreading or contract ing the saine. The cross-bars c c c, connecting the central wire with the rear wire, are also made in like manner with loops in their centers, so that they may also be expanded or contracted to vary the size ot the calf and back of the leg generally. The forward part of the said wire frame, from the toe upward, acts as a spring whose tendency is to press outward. This spring is connected by two parallel bars, d df, which are linked or pivoted in their respective positions, as shown in the drawings. The said front of the leg is moved by means of the cam c, or its equivalent, pivoted to the central wire. The said cam having a grooved or channeled face and bearing against the free end of the forward wire enables the same to be held in any desired position. The loop f at the top is formed by making an eye and bending the same to one side, so as to form a hook.

In Fig. 2, which represents a modification of the above, I dispense with the use of the spring or free end forming the front of the leg, and make the exterior of the frame a continu-A ous wire; and in order to allow the same to be `adjusted tot any width of leg or length of foot, l employ cros's'bracescc! c c', also provided with loops, and a loop or ring,b, being formed at the heel, in like manner to that above described.

I do not limit myself solely to constructing the above frames of wire, but also propose making them of sheet metal, wood,` pasteboard, or other suitable material.

ln making the frame of wood, as shown in Fig. 3, the frame is made intwo pieces, g g', which are connected by two parallel bars, h h', whose extremities are pivoted to their respective pieces, as shown.

' It will here be observed that that portion forming the, front of the leg is so constructed that when it is closed up to its smallest form its exterior line will be iiush with the topi and the inner faces of the two parts g g made to match. The toe being on the forwardpiece, g, and its bottom being on the same line as the sole of the foot on the piece g', it allows the foot to be lengthened at the same time and with the same movement as that of the legf IOO sole of the foot. The said front piece, g, is held outward in anyT desired position by means of the pawl 7c, which is pivoted on the piece g and bears upon the top of g.

It will here be 'observed that from the peculiar form of the cap of the knee there is aprojection which,in conjunction with the swell ot' the calf, assists materially in holdin gthe stocking from falling in longitudinal shrinking.

I am aware that devices have been made of' Wire for drying and stretching` hose; but such have not been made capable of adjustment. These I do not claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, in a device for drying.;` and stretching hose, of the parallel braces d d and cam e, forming a movable connection between the toe and top of the leg, whereby the same may be adjusted to any width ot' hose, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, in a device for drying and stretching hose, ot' the parallel braces d d and cani 'e with the looped braces c c c and loop b, for the uses and purposes substantially as shown and described.

8. In a stocking-franie,the combination, with the contin nous wire frame A a", of the looped connecting-bars c c c, loop b, and hanger f, when constructed and arranged in the manner and for the uses and purposes substantially as described and shown.

FREDERICK B. SPOONER.

Witnesses OLE H. HoLBERG, CHARLES H. NAsH. 

